More organizations have condemned the shooting incident on May 2 at Church Road, Dimapur where two student leaders, Benito Chisho, speaker of All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) who is also the former president of Kiphire District Sumi Students’ Union (KDSSU) and Atoka Chophy, former president of KDSSU were shot and injured. The GPRN/NSCN had owned responsibility for the shootout saying it was a case of “mistaken identity,” and tendered unconditional apology to the victims, their families, students’ community and the Nagas as a whole.
“Such hysterical actions on the part of any individuals/groups under the guise of freedom movement deserved condemnation by the people at large,” a dismayed Naga Hoho commented over the incident and also termed it as “unfortunate.”
The apex Naga body through its general secretary, P.Chuba Ozukum however appreciated the GPRN/NSCN for their straightforwardness in owning responsibility over the incident and their efforts to help the victims.
Meanwhile, the Naga Hoho also said it was “amazed” to learn that one of the victims had to run for a long distance in search of security personnel for safety which it pointed out was “highly questionable” considering the uptight situation in Dimapur.
It pointed out that Dimapur has become the target of every organizations be it social or political for collection of taxes and donations from the business community affecting the poor public.
The Naga Hoho observed that, at the end, it was the poor public who has to bear the brunt of exorbitant rate imposed by the business community on all forms of commodities for recovery of illegal taxes, etc. The Hoho asserted that the voice of the Naga people for reconciliation and a permanent political settlement did not mean that every political group were given license for domination of territories and elimination of each other so as to collect more taxes from the public which it feared might gradually lead to the breakdown of reconciliation process in the state.
Also condemning the shootout, the NSCN (I-M) alleged that the “diabolical agenda” of the GPRN/NSCN was once again seen when their activists “tried to assassinate” the two innocent student leaders.
MIP/GPRN in a mailed statement asked as to whom were the actual targets of the GPRN/NSCN if the shooting incident was a case of mistaken identity as claimed by them. Stating that it was maintaining restrain responding to the call of the Naga public, the NSCN (I-M) said the most they do with the extortionists was to apprehend them and keep in their custody for some time.
The NSCN (I-M) also said it was disturbing for the Naga people that the “Khehoi campers” under the protection of IRB and Assam Rifles were given a free hand to commit rape, looting, intimidation, kidnapping, extortion, assassination etc.
It said the existence of Khehoi Camp was another clear manifestation of the Indian Government’s double standard policy in the “Indo-Naga,” political dialogue. The NSCN (I-M) wished the two student leaders a speedy recovery.
Sumi Hoho while condemning the shooting incident has urged the authority responsible to nab the culprits at the earliest. The Hoho also expressed its gratitude to state chief minister, Neiphiu Rio for arranging chopper in airlifting the injured students to Guwahati.
Nitoi Village Students’ Union (NVSU), president Kiyeshi Yeptho; Nitoi Village Council (NVC), chairman N. Vikiho Yeptho and Nitoi Village Dimapur Union (NVDU), chairman Ghohezhe Achumi in a joint press statement condemned the shootout in the strongest terms.
The three unions said “whoever and whatsoever manner the apology be approached cannot be compromised unless the justice is delivered.” The unions further appealed the law enforcing agencies to book the culprit and deliver justice at the earliest.
The Kiphire District Sumi Students’ Union (KDSSU) has expressed “shock” over the shooting of two of its members and injuring them by the GPRN/NSCN activists on “mistaken identity” and vehemently condemned it.
The KDSSU executive members in a joint press statement also expressed gratitude to all those oganisations and the authority responsible for their initiative in the incident and hoped that the same cooperation would continue till the culprits were arrested.
Condemning the “barbaric and uncivilized act” committed to innocent citizens, the Kiphire District Sumi Union Dimapur (KDSUD) through its general secretary, Shitovi Kiba also urged the law enforcing agencies to immediately book the culprits and award befitting punishment as per the law.
Expressing “shock” over the incident, the Chakhesang Students Union (CSU) said that the GPRN/NSCN’s statement on the incident as ‘mistaken identity’ signified the random functioning of the government and alleged it was rather an attempt to tarnish the image of the students’ community.
Also terming the incident as the “ugliest incident,” the CSU in a joint statement issued by its president, Mutsivoyi Kotso and general secretary, Esther Rhakho appealed all right thinking denizens to join hands in the process of eradicating “evil instincts” in the present society.
Backing the NSF statement, the CSU demanded immediate reaction from law and order agencies at the earliest. Further, CSU prayed for the speedy recovery of the two inured.
Rengma students’ union (RSU) has also condemned the aborted attempt on the life of the two student leaders on May 2 at Dimapur. Expressing grief and anger, the RSU described the incident as a ‘senseless act that could never be tolerated.” The union further demanded the law enforcing authorities to immediately arrest the culprits and award befitting punishment. It prayed for speedy recovery of the injured student leaders
Kyong Students Union (KSU) vehemently condemned the shooting incident and termed it as “savage” by ‘mysterious’ gunmen. KSU through a press statement by its general secretary, Mhabemo Mozhui urged the law implementing agencies to seriously investigate and immediately book the culprits at the earliest and award befitting punishment. The union further expressed grief over the incident and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
The All Nagaland College Students’ Union (ANCSU) also expressed “shock” and condemned the shooting incident. The union through a press statement by its social and culture secretary, Yanbemo Humtsoe said every right thinking citizen should strongly oppose such “inhuman activity” by those “lunatic” which was creating a selfless and insecure atmosphere for the society to live in.
Dimapur Sumi Students’ Union (DSSU) while condemning the shootout said such “barbaric and intolerable act” committed to innocent student leaders was a “total insult” to the student leaders who were voluntarily sacrificing for the welfare of the students’ community.
DSSU in a press release issued jointly by its acting president, Viketo Chishi, and H. Toniho Achumi further urged the law enforcing agencies to nab the culprits at the earliest and award befitting punishment as per the law of the land. The union extended its support and prayer for the speedy recovery of the injured.
Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union Dimapur (ENSUD) while condemning the incident said such incidents created fear psychosis among the populace. A press release issued by its president, P. Pushu Nyukthan urged the authorities responsible for immediate investigation in booking the culprits. It also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured student leaders.
Purana Bazaar Sumi Students’ Union (PBSSU), Dimapur has also condemned the incident where the two student leasers were shot at “without any reason” and injured them grievously. The union in a condemnation note issued by its president has urged the law enforcing agencies to nab the culprits at the earliest and award befitting punishment as per the law of the land. It wished the two victims a speedy recovery.
SCPP, STHPP, SSUPP: Sumi Community Padum Pukhuri (SCPP), Sumi Totomi Hoho Padum Pukhuri (STHPP) and Sumi Students’ Union Padum Pukhuri (SSUPP) have condemned the shooting incident in the strongest terms wherein two student leaders were injured without any valid reason.
SCPP, chairman; STHPP, president and SSUPP, president in a joint press statement said that they were totally shocked over the senseless act by those unidentified gunmen and appealed to those responsible parties to shun such incident in the near future.
NWHD: Naga Women Hoho Dimapur (NWHD) through a press statement by its president Hukheli T. Wotsa while condemning the shooting incident at Church Road, Dimapur on Saturday said that they (group/organization) should not shoot at first sight but should investigate first.
ASUD: Ao Students Union Dimapur (ASUD) also condemning the shooting incident in the strongest term where the two students’ leaders Benito Swu, speaker All Sumi Students’ Union (SKK) and Atoka Chophy former president KDSSU were shot without any “valid reasons” has urged the law enfrcoing agency to book the culprits at the earliest. ASUD in a joint press statement by its president, N. Sashi Walling and general secretary, S. Toshi Longchar expressed deep sympathy to the injured and to their families and wished them a speedy recovery.